KEY POINTS:
As New Zealand biosecurity officials launched a nationwide appeal to find an Australian horseowner who has deliberately spread equine influenza, a Herald on Sunday journalist found him - by calling his cellphone.
Australian racehorse trainer Robbie Heathcote told Brisbane Radio TAB on Friday he had deliberately spread equine influenza, or horse flu, through his stable.
He said he did so because it was inevitable they would get equine flu anyway. An animal in his stable had already shown signs of the illness.
"So in essence it's in everybody's interests that all the horses contract it as soon as possible so we can get over the [30-day] quarantine period and get back to racing," he told the Herald on Sunday.
On Friday, Heathcote boarded a plane to meet his children and Kiwi-born wife in Pukekohe, south of Auckland, for a holiday - sending MAF into a small frenzy.
MAF Biosecurity issued a press statement and put a message across the public address system at Ellerslie Racecourse yesterday, seeking to contact Heathcote.
It took the Herald on Sunday two phone calls to get the trainer's cellphone number yesterday afternoon, and was chatting to him in Pukekohe within minutes.
Heathcote said he had absolutely no intention of endangering the New Zealand racing industry.
"When I came through immigration and Customs of course I was the first one to put my hand up and say where I've been, who I am, what I do."
He checked biosecurity requirements before leaving Brisbane, and bought a completely new set of clothing and luggage.
Director of enforcement, Jockey Jensen, said MAF Biosecurity simply wanted to talk to Heathcote about his actions in Queensland.
